Ching a finalist for Humanitarian award

Dynamo forward Brian Ching was named one of three finalists for the MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year Award, Major League Soccer announced Wednesday. The finalists, which include Kansas City's Jimmy Conrad and New York's Seth Stammler, earned the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches, referees and members of the media. The winner will be announced November 8.

Ching, who was named the Dynamo's Humanitarian of the Year, led the charge to raise more than $75,000 in 2010 in partnership with Houston Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a deserving Houston-area family, The House that Ching Built. Through a fundraiser at the Dynamo's April 10 game, a celebrity post-game party at the 2010 AT&T MLS All-Star Game, and other donations from individuals and from organizations like BMC Software, Dynamo Charities, MLS WORKS, Turner Construction, and Avalon Wines, construction on the house began in early October.

On the field in 2010, Ching netted a team-high seven goals in MLS play despite missing significant time due to injury and national team commitments. He remains the club's all-time leading scorer, with 57 goals in 144 appearances in all competitions.